Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu smashed the previous world record in the 400m individual medley by two seconds, but the violent behaviour of her husband has sparked questions about whether it's 'fear or confidence that's driving her'.

Many who witnessed the euphoric reaction of her husband and coach Shane Tusup after her victory were touched by the exhibition of spousal support.

He can be seen screaming in delight and is almost brought to tears by his wife's victory.

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Victory: Concerns have been raised over the relationship between Hungarian gold medallist Katinka Hosszu and her husband and coach Shane Tusup (pictured together)

Delight: Viewers were touched by Tusup's outpouring of emotion following the swimmer's victory in the 400m individual medley on Saturday

Champion: Hosszu smashed the previous world record by two seconds, thrilling her coach and husband Tusup. But his reactions to her losses are just as powerful

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NBC's official Olympics Twitter account encouraged women to 'find someone who loves you the way Katinka Hosszu's husband loves her'.

But it has emerged that his reaction to her losses are equally powerful.

When the swimmer just missed out on beating the world record in the heats for the 400m race, footage shows him grimacing and clenching his fists before punching the air in anger.

Another clip from December 2015 shows an aggressive response to her loss, when he was caught on camera throwing his cap on the ground and kicking the barrier in anger and frustration.

'He's pretty hard as a coach,' Hosszu told The New York Times, 'but at home he's supersweet and loving and really funny.'

Physical: Footage of Tusup's reaction to Hosszu's victory on Saturday shows him screaming and clenching his fists in delight

'Complicated': Hosszu confessed that he can be 'pretty harsh as a coach' and 'emotional', and she described their relationship as 'complicated'

She described their relationship as 'pretty complicated'.

'Because he's so emotional and he really wants us to get the goals we set for ourselves, that's probably why he's able to be that way,' she added.

'We always try to push each other, I think, and we really try to – I'm trying to think how to say this – ignore everything else for the goals.

He's so emotional and he really wants us to get the goals we set for ourselves, that's probably why he's able to be that way.

Gold medallist Katinka Hosszu

'So if we get in a fight, we know why or try to figure out why, so if he says something during practice and I know he's speaking as a coach, I won't be offended.'

But Olympic medallist Jessica Hardy, who used to train with Hosszu, said she had seen 'a lot of inappropriate and not-okay behaviour in Shane'.

She added that his behaviour went beyond that of other coaches, saying 'this is another level. It's scary'.

One of Hosszu's former coaches, Dave Salo, asked whether it was 'fear or confidence that is driving her'.

The couple first met as students at the University of Southern California. Hosszu asked him to coach her in 2012, and they got married in 2013.

Success: Swimmer Jessica Hardy, who used to train with Hosszu, said she had seen 'a lot of inappropriate and not-okay behaviour in Shane'. Pictured, winners Hosszu (centre), Maya Dirado of the US (left) and Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain (right)

Union: The couple first met as students at the University of Southern California. Hosszu asked him to coach her in 2012, and they got married in 2013

But Tusup defended his behaviour, insisting that he's not a bully.

'I get a bad rep in the US because these parents in the stands, they're going 'He's such a jerk, he yells at her when she doesn't swim fast'.

'No, the hard part of swimming is that there's a lot of times you just settle for okay, and we agreed that the goal was never to settle for okay, that we're going to keep pushing, even if we don't get it , to be great, to be amazing, to be legendary.'

Katinka’s win on Saturday sparked further controversy, after an NBC commentator credited Tusup as being ‘the guy responsible’ for her incredible turnaround.

Online critics suggested Dan Hicks’ commentary was sexist, and implied the female athlete’s success was down to a man.

Uproar: Katinka’s win on Saturday sparked further controversy, after an NBC commentator credited Tusup as being ‘the guy responsible’ for her incredible turnaround

Hicks has since apologised and said that ‘with live TV, there are often times you look back and wished you had said things differently’.

The commentator added: ‘It is impossible to tell Katinka’s story accurately without giving appropriate credit to Shane, and that’s what I was trying to do.’

Hicks said the swimmer herself credits Tusup for improving her training and bolstering her confidence, which was shattered when she lost the same event four years ago.

'It can be very, very harsh,' Hicks said on Saturday's broadcast, referring to Tusup's coaching style. 'In fact, it's been a little disturbing to some of the other swimmers who have observed it.'